After Mistakenly Provoking The Soft, Unhinged Princess O - Chapter 3

Just as Yu Qingci was hesitating, a burst of noise came from outside the bedchamber doors—

“At this hour, Her Highness would normally have risen long ago. Why are you stopping us like this?!”

“Matron Yu said…”

“I was not aware that the master of the princess’s residence had become Matron Yu. If you keep blocking us and delay Her Highness’s visit to the Yu Estate to pay respects, I would like to see what good end you can expect from Yu Su! Move aside!”

The moment the words fell, the palace doors were suddenly pushed open.

Qinhe, the maidservant at the front, hurried into the inner chamber. Seeing Yu Qingci sitting beside Yan Lingshu, she abruptly stopped and lowered her head properly. “Your Highness, it is almost the chen hour. Will you be washing and dressing?”

Yu Qingci lowered her head and screwed the lid back onto the medicine bottle, her mind turning over the words she had just heard—what did they mean, stopping them from coming in?

Could it be that someone had been guarding outside the bedchamber all night?

Then the sounds from inside the chamber last night… had they not heard everything clearly?

Yu Qingci felt her paper-thin face begin to burn again.

She got up and put the medicine bottle back. As soon as she moved away, sharp-eyed Qinhe caught sight of the bruised marks on Yan Lingshu’s neck.

She rushed forward in one stride, crouched down to examine the injuries at Yan Lingshu’s throat, and spoke in a voice full of furious indignation. “Your Highness! Who injured you? Qinhe will never spare her!”

A chill ran down Yu Qingci’s spine. When she turned her head, sure enough, Qinhe’s gaze was fixed coldly on her. “Last night, only Your Highness and the consort were in the chamber. Could it be the consort…”

“Qinhe,” Yan Lingshu called her name, neither lightly nor heavily, “you must not be rude to the consort.”

“Your Highness, you are injured this badly. How can we just let it go?” As Qinhe spoke, she turned to the maidservants behind her and snapped angrily, “Are you all fools? Hurry and invite a physician!”

“There is no need to rush.” Yan Lingshu’s tone was gentle and slow. “After we return from the Yu Estate, invite a physician then.”

“Your Highness!” Qinhe was anxious and was just about to persuade her further.

Then, not far away, a calm voice suddenly sounded. “I did it.”

The inner chamber fell silent in an instant.

Yan Lingshu lifted her eyes and looked at Yu Qingci, who stood not far away.

Yu Qingci’s expression was composed, without the slightest trace of panic. As if afraid these people had not understood, she added unhurriedly, “The injuries on Her Highness’s neck were choked out by me.”

The group of maidservants waiting outside the inner chamber became as silent as cicadas in winter.

Qinhe stood, glaring at her furiously.

Before she could make any move, someone slowly stepped into the inner chamber. “This servant is Yu Su. Greetings, consort.”

The woman who came in wore deep purple robes. She looked to be around thirty or forty years old, with a plain, severe face. At one glance, she was clearly not someone easy to get along with.

Yet she showed Yu Qingci a smile. “Consort, please do not make such jokes. I believe the injuries on Her Highness’s neck must have been an accident, yes?”

As she spoke, she turned toward Yan Lingshu. Her brows and eyes were lowered, but there was not a hint of respect in her gaze, only the pressure of someone looking down from above.

Yu Qingci took a few steps forward, just happening to stand in front of Yan Lingshu, blocking Yu Su’s gaze completely.

Yu Su lifted her brows slightly. When she looked at Yu Qingci, there was a little more respect in her eyes. “Consort, your feelings for Her Highness are deep. You cannot bear to let outsiders know she harmed herself like this. But why take all the blame onto yourself?”

Yu Qingci’s brow lifted.

Good grief. This woman’s ability to turn black into white was quite impressive. With just a few sentences, she had cleared Yu Qingci of her “wrongful accusation” and even shaped her into the image of a deeply devoted lover.

It was obvious that Yu Su was offering allegiance to her.

In the original novel, “Yu Qingci” had accepted Yu Su’s allegiance. With Yu Su’s power, she had acted tyrannically in the princess’s residence and removed Yan Lingshu’s known confidants one by one.

Qinhe was the first person they used as an example.

“Matron Yu.” Yu Qingci took a step forward, smiling without quite smiling. “Are you deaf?”

Hearing the respectful form of address in the first half, Yu Su’s expression relaxed. Then she heard the second half, and her entire body froze.

Yu Qingci took another step forward, and the smile on her face vanished completely. “Last night, after I drank the ceremonial wedding wine, a violent hostility rose in my chest, and in a moment of carelessness, I injured Her Highness. In this vast princess’s residence, someone actually dared to tamper with the wedding wine shared by Her Highness and me! Yu Su, do you admit your crime?”

Yu Qingci’s sharp shout rang out with full authority.

Yu Su’s expression turned ugly. “What does the consort mean by this?”

“It seems Matron Yu is not only deaf, but slow-witted as well.” Yu Qingci gave a mocking smile. “Then I will speak more plainly. Last night, someone drugged the wedding wine. As for what drug was used, why it was used, I imagine that person knows very well in her heart.”

Yu Qingci’s words carried a pointed meaning.

There really had been something wrong with the wedding wine last night. It had most likely been laced with an aphrodisiac, and she had happened to transmigrate over right as the drug took effect.

As for who had drugged it, Yu Qingci, having read the original novel, could make a rough guess—

Yan Lingshu’s birth mother had died early. All these years, she had been raised under the empress’s care. The empress had a legitimate son of her own, and to pave the way for him, she naturally had to put more thought into her adopted daughter’s marriage.

But everyone in the capital knew that the legitimate daughter of the Linyuan Marquis Estate liked the current dynasty’s Second Princess and had even sworn because of it that she would never marry.

To “bring together” Yu Qingci and Yan Lingshu, the empress had directed a scene at the Lantern Festival palace banquet, letting everyone see with their own eyes that Yu Qingci and Yan Lingshu had been alone in the same room, the room filled with scent pheromones. There had been no room for argument.

Now that the marriage had been settled, the empress was still not at ease. She just had to arrange for someone to tamper with the wedding wine, truly forcing their relationship into reality.

The moment Yu Qingci thought of someone listening to an entire night of movement, anger flared up inside her, and her expression became even more stern. “Yu Su, you manage the entire princess’s residence, yet you could not even keep something as important as the wedding wine safe. And now you still dare ask me what I mean? How about I enter the palace and ask Her Majesty the Empress what she meant by placing someone this stupid beside Her Highness?”

Yu Qingci’s words could not have been more direct.

Yu Su could no longer pretend she did not understand. Although drugging the wine had indeed been Her Majesty the Empress’s intention, if the matter truly reached the palace, she would be the one to suffer.

“This servant is guilty.” Yu Su lowered her head and bent at the waist, putting on a respectful posture. “Last night’s wedding banquet was busy and chaotic. I never imagined some petty villain would dare drug the wedding wine and damage the marriage alliance. This servant will certainly investigate everyone in the princess’s residence thoroughly and give the consort an explanation.”

“The person Matron Yu owes an explanation to is not me.” Yu Qingci turned sideways to face Yan Lingshu and said, word by word, “The master of this princess’s residence is Her Highness. Every word and action of yours should obey Her Highness’s will. And I, as the consort, will also follow Her Highness’s every command.”

Since Yu Su could offer allegiance to her, she could naturally seize the chance to offer allegiance to Yan Lingshu.

A sly smile appeared in Yu Qingci’s eyes, with a hint of pride, as if she were saying, See? Didn’t I say that well?

For a moment, Yan Lingshu felt as if Yu Qingci were wagging her tail at her, waiting to be praised.

She did not look at the Qianyuan’s overly bright eyes. Her gaze turned instead toward Yu Su, whose posture was humble.

The empress wanted to form an alliance with the Linyuan Marquis Estate, so she naturally would not allow anyone to offend Yu Qingci. Yu Su had been wary of the consequences and had wanted to curry favor, but unexpectedly, she had ended up poking herself in the eye.

“Matron Yu has, after all, served by my side for many years.” Yan Lingshu rose, her voice gentle. “She should already know her mistake. Qingci, do not…”

“Your Highness, she failed in her duties and naturally should be punished.” Yu Qingci stepped forward, ignoring Qinhe’s tiger-like glare, and stood beside Yan Lingshu. “In my opinion, since she cannot manage the princess’s residence properly, she might as well hand over the steward’s position. I think this maidservant at Your Highness’s side is quite good. Though her temper is a little anxious, she sincerely considers Your Highness’s well-being. What does Your Highness think?”

Qinhe stood at the side, surprise showing on her face.

The people below did not make a sound, but their thoughts had already turned a hundred times.

Was the consort trying to seize Yu Su’s power?

Who in the princess’s residence did not know that Yu Su was Her Majesty the Empress’s person? Even the Fifth Princess had to respect her and listen to her.

“Qingci, Matron Yu did not do it intentionally. It was only a momentary oversight…” Yan Lingshu looked hesitant.

Yu Qingci interrupted her. “Your Highness, I know you are kind-hearted. It is fine not to beat her, but there cannot be no punishment at all. If that happens, who will guarantee Your Highness’s safety and mine in the future? Your Highness, listen to me on this matter. Let it be done this way.”

As for Yu Su’s opinion?

What importance could a servant’s opinion possibly have?

Yu Qingci did not even ask. She directly ordered Yu Su to withdraw and reflect on herself.

Yu Su withdrew with gritted teeth.

The entire inner chamber grew even quieter. The maidservants brought the washing utensils into the chamber almost soundlessly.

After Yu Qingci finished washing up, she turned and saw Qinhe helping Yan Lingshu choose a hairpin. Seeing Qinhe hesitate, she suggested, “Choose the blue one. It matches the outfit better.”

Whether intentionally or not, Yan Lingshu had chosen the same color scheme for her clothes as Yu Qingci.

Hearing Yu Qingci’s words, Qinhe deliberately reached out to take the pale purple hairpin.

Yu Qingci moved first and picked up the blue butterfly hairpin. “I’ll do it.”

Through the bronze mirror, Yan Lingshu lifted her eyes slightly.

Qinhe saw it, pressed her lips together, and stepped back.

Yu Qingci stood behind Yan Lingshu and inserted the butterfly hairpin in her hand into Yan Lingshu’s hair. Her phoenix eyes curved into crescents, filled with a bright smile. “Your Highness looks very beautiful like this.”

Through the bronze mirror, Yan Lingshu met her gaze. Those eyes were too clear and bright, without the slightest trace of filthy thoughts.

But she remembered very clearly that last night, someone had ground against her, bitten her lips, and murmured indistinctly, “You’re so beautiful… mm, I like…”

Now, to say this sentence on purpose was truly indecent.